Russ Wise seeks 57th District seat in House of Representatives

Russ Wise, a longtime St. John the Baptist Parish School Board member, has announced his candidacy for the Louisiana House of Representatives 57th District seat in the Oct. 22 election.

Russ Wise

The seat is currently held by Nickie Monica, R--LaPlace, who is not seeking re-election.

Wise, a LaPlace resident, said he wants to restore full funding to the state education system from pre-kindergarten through graduate school, with the goal of making the state's education system second to none in the country.

"Nothing is more important than education," Wise said. "With a strong education system in the state, all of the other issues such as jobs, health care and crime can be addressed."

Wise, a retired broadcast journalist, covered state politics for radio and television stations in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Monroe for three decades. He is a Vietnam War veteran and has been a Boy Scout leader in St. John for 20 years.

In his fourth term on the School Board, he is also a member of the Louisiana School Board Association board of directors, the River Region Arts and Humanities Council, St. John ARC and Gideons International.